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Jun 27, 2011
06/11
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. >> starting next month we will be able to remove 10,000 of our troops from afghanistan by the end of this year and will bring home a total of 33,000 troops by next summer. >> all the time line on the war in afghanistan and search for thousand entries online at the c-span video library. search, watch, clip, and share every c-span program since 1987, all free, any time. it is washington your way. law professors are using the support -- supreme court decision. we will hear about the make up and how the justices ruled on high-profile court cases. held at the annual judicial conference, this is two hours. >> good morning once again to everybody. i am happy to welcome all of you to the supreme court review. our plan is one that if you have been here before you are familiar with. we propose that during the morning to take a look at some of the significant decisions of the most recent turmoil of the u.s. supreme court. i hope you will realize that we're being very selective in our coverage. it is not possible to be comprehensive. not even all the important cases will necessarily be talked ab
. >> starting next month we will be able to remove 10,000 of our troops from afghanistan by the end of this year and will bring home a total of 33,000 troops by next summer. >> all the time line on the war in afghanistan and search for thousand entries online at the c-span video library. search, watch, clip, and share every c-span program since 1987, all free, any time. it is washington your way. law professors are using the support -- supreme court decision. we will hear about the...
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Dec 21, 2011
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question that khristine had about afghanistan. in 2014, the president will make its decisions on the size and shape of our 2012 presence after the reduction of the surjit forces at the appropriate time with our afghan and nato partners. any 2014 president will be at the imitation of the afghan government -- any 2014 presence will be at the invitation of the afghan government. the framework that i discussed at the top was laid out in lisbon. >> do you have any reaction to the prime minister's suggestion today that he wants to shed members of the coalition that he might not get it along with it? >> we did a read of the vice president calls to that statement. we have worked with a number of the members on the president's team in iraq. it will continue to be that iraqi leaders pursue a representative government so that everyone's interests are properly represented. beyond that, i would refer to the statement that we put out. >> [unintelligible] but the guard that he had jailed? >> i do not have anything more on that for you today. yes
question that khristine had about afghanistan. in 2014, the president will make its decisions on the size and shape of our 2012 presence after the reduction of the surjit forces at the appropriate time with our afghan and nato partners. any 2014 president will be at the imitation of the afghan government -- any 2014 presence will be at the invitation of the afghan government. the framework that i discussed at the top was laid out in lisbon. >> do you have any reaction to the prime...
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Aug 4, 2011
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>> with respect to just out of afghanistan, with respect to the threats growing in afghanistan clearly we had some expectation that they would move to these spectacular assassinations, and we do not dismiss them. they're very serious threats in that regard. the taliban suffered pretty significantly last year. they no longer in many places on the battle space, and we expect that to continue, and that is what they have moved to and we're working hard to protect our forces and also provide enhanced security for the senior afghan officials which are targeted here. and the second part of the question? >> india -- >> as you know, i have felt for a long time this is a regional issue. you talk about south asia. it is a south asian and regional challenge that all countries have the united states has vital interests in the region, so that the countries that live there, and we'll have to continue to work to address these challenges or they will get worse. i am encouraged specifically with the discussions between pakistan and india in recent weeks and months. at least if i understand both governme
>> with respect to just out of afghanistan, with respect to the threats growing in afghanistan clearly we had some expectation that they would move to these spectacular assassinations, and we do not dismiss them. they're very serious threats in that regard. the taliban suffered pretty significantly last year. they no longer in many places on the battle space, and we expect that to continue, and that is what they have moved to and we're working hard to protect our forces and also provide...
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Sep 1, 2011
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we are drawing our assets away from afghanistan. will we be able to find out about this plot moving forward as resources devoted to the problem become less? that is the fundamental problem. he talks about withdrawal from mogadishu. ok, but they still control the west of somalia outside that one city, which is with the african union forces are able to operate. bottom line is this is a very easy debate. peter has not repeated the argument that we are in massive financial trouble, which means that more resources are drawn away from intelligence, which means we are less resilience against the problem. he has not answered at all the arguments advanced quoting him the home grown terrorism is an increasing problem. it is not just words like g. hardy terrorism groups fear you have right wing extremism at home and other types of political extremism at home. the attack in norway shows you cannot ignore other non-g. hardy groups, and our capacity for all these groups is never less. he ignores the argument i made about how our allies also, will
we are drawing our assets away from afghanistan. will we be able to find out about this plot moving forward as resources devoted to the problem become less? that is the fundamental problem. he talks about withdrawal from mogadishu. ok, but they still control the west of somalia outside that one city, which is with the african union forces are able to operate. bottom line is this is a very easy debate. peter has not repeated the argument that we are in massive financial trouble, which means that...
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Jun 23, 2011
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there is no military solution in afghanistan. and in a world where terrorism can eminate from the tribal regions of yemen or hotel room in germany, we cannot adequately address these challenges through a boots on the ground strategy. it is clear that occupying states and nation building doesn't make for effective counterterrorism and the financial and human costs for continuing this war are indefensible. with over 1,600 troops killed and more seriously wounded in afghanistan, the human toll continues to mount each ander day. we need to bring our troops home and use the savings for our economic challenges here at home especially for job and i have amendments to end funding operations for combat in afghanistan and provide funding for the protection and safe and orderly withdrawal of our young men and women as quickly as possible. and i urge members to support this amendment. aisle be offering an amendment to transfer $5 billion, which is in the pentagon -- now this is a $5 billion -- may i have two more minutes? mr. dicks: yield tw
there is no military solution in afghanistan. and in a world where terrorism can eminate from the tribal regions of yemen or hotel room in germany, we cannot adequately address these challenges through a boots on the ground strategy. it is clear that occupying states and nation building doesn't make for effective counterterrorism and the financial and human costs for continuing this war are indefensible. with over 1,600 troops killed and more seriously wounded in afghanistan, the human toll...
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May 18, 2011
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they will try to be in afghanistan -- and they were trying to be in afghanistan and were thrown out. we need to stay focused oour national interests. our national interests have reached the point where we turn this over to the afghanis. it does not mean we're leaving the region. it does not mean this is not a strategic region to us. it does nomean we do not have ties. it is time for them to step up to the plate. host: your first phone call. senator udall. caller: two months ago, i was in kandahar. i spent the last several years in iraq and afghanistan as a civilian contractor. as yogi berra used to say, it ain't over till it's over. we're going to have to have a substantial political, military, economic presence in that part of the world for some years to come. we cannot afford to quit the scene too early. host: before you go on, why were you in that area? caller: i'm a contractor. host: what about your experience there makes you have this opinion? caller: because the situation is so fluid, so delicate. there are so many different parties involved. the insurgency is thoroughly entren
they will try to be in afghanistan -- and they were trying to be in afghanistan and were thrown out. we need to stay focused oour national interests. our national interests have reached the point where we turn this over to the afghanis. it does not mean we're leaving the region. it does not mean this is not a strategic region to us. it does nomean we do not have ties. it is time for them to step up to the plate. host: your first phone call. senator udall. caller: two months ago, i was in...
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Jun 9, 2011
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no one wants to lose afghanistan. all of us are so mindful of the enormous sacrifices that are military men and women have made in afghanistan and the enormous amount of taxpayer dollars that have been spent. senator brown ask you a question today about what our mission is. you talked about the goal of having afghanistan be a stable state. that is certainly something that i want also. to me, that seems to be a never ending mission. i do not see how we get to a stable state in afghanistan. let me give you an example. a key to our transition in afghanistan, a key to our troops being able to come home is the development of a confident, aggressive afghan security force. we have made a lot of progress in that area. i look at the cost of maintaining the afghan security force. in this year's presidential budget request, is $12.8 billion. the total afghanistan gross domestic product is about $30 billion and 97% of afghanistan's gdp is derived from spending related to international military and donor community presence. when i
no one wants to lose afghanistan. all of us are so mindful of the enormous sacrifices that are military men and women have made in afghanistan and the enormous amount of taxpayer dollars that have been spent. senator brown ask you a question today about what our mission is. you talked about the goal of having afghanistan be a stable state. that is certainly something that i want also. to me, that seems to be a never ending mission. i do not see how we get to a stable state in afghanistan. let...
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Aug 31, 2011
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afghanistan and iraq. the first time i know of we went to war and cut taxes rather than paying our bills. so we use their credit card to get a tax cut and use their credit card to pay for two wars. we use our credit card to expand government spending and it was wrong. then we hit a recession and when barack obama took the oath of office, this nation was losing over 700,000 jobs a month and we had huge, huge deficits. what barack obama then did was suggest government spending, and order to get us out of this recession, which is what most economists would tell you is the right thing to do. further adding to the deficits of this country. it is important to understand how we got to where we were and what happened in washington this past few months. we have a debt ceiling. a debt ceiling is an arbitrary limit as to how much the government can borrow. raising the debt ceiling does not increase one dime of federal spending. not one dime. the spending had already been incurred. the question is whether we were goin
afghanistan and iraq. the first time i know of we went to war and cut taxes rather than paying our bills. so we use their credit card to get a tax cut and use their credit card to pay for two wars. we use our credit card to expand government spending and it was wrong. then we hit a recession and when barack obama took the oath of office, this nation was losing over 700,000 jobs a month and we had huge, huge deficits. what barack obama then did was suggest government spending, and order to get...
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Jun 30, 2011
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on where in afghanistan you are. my experience is mostly in the east. i only have a little bit of experience in the south. the south has a lot of open combat. a lot of the headquarters for the taliban. in the east, it depends on where you are. the provinces just south of kabul, where they used to have strong relationships with kabul, a lot of traffic moving between i.e.d. galleries where coalition troops and a large coalition presence is trying hard to lock those provinces down to protect kabul. every step they take, they are threatened by i.e.d.s' that are killing native troops and afghans every year. as we move closer to the border and you head southeast toward pakistan and places like the paktika province, the threat there is not so much ied's. the terrain is rough and it is mountainous. the coalition troops and the taliban move on foot. the coalition also has helicopters that can get them between mountaintops. once they get off of the helicopters, they are back to walking around on that. ied's are lot less useful
on where in afghanistan you are. my experience is mostly in the east. i only have a little bit of experience in the south. the south has a lot of open combat. a lot of the headquarters for the taliban. in the east, it depends on where you are. the provinces just south of kabul, where they used to have strong relationships with kabul, a lot of traffic moving between i.e.d. galleries where coalition troops and a large coalition presence is trying hard to lock those provinces down to protect...
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Nov 8, 2011
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they are operating throughout afghanistan. essentially down in the southwest corner, it was my privilege in 2010 to be the commanding general down there and lead the marines and our allied forces. our entire coalition is fighting in that part of the country. the marines down there are doing everything from a close combat y, to the westemy i near the border, but more importantly, the they are doing an awful lot of counterinsurgency operations, involving things like ensuring schools are up and running, and area or the country is important to the pashtuns who live there. we are helping the local government develop and expand influence. most important is our effort to train the afghan security forces, both of the police and army. we have mobile training teams that are out, looking at the very lowest levels. we also have training teams at the camps that involve training recruits -- the afghanistan army and the local police. we are operating across the entire spectrum. there has been significant success in the southwest. it is an ar
they are operating throughout afghanistan. essentially down in the southwest corner, it was my privilege in 2010 to be the commanding general down there and lead the marines and our allied forces. our entire coalition is fighting in that part of the country. the marines down there are doing everything from a close combat y, to the westemy i near the border, but more importantly, the they are doing an awful lot of counterinsurgency operations, involving things like ensuring schools are up and...
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Mar 23, 2011
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whole future of afghanistan. the secretary was here a careful to say that those to work looking previously at preconditions for discussion have not converted. those preconditions into negotiating objectives. there is no internal disagreement on these particular points. >> you are absolutely right. it is different. we do not represent them, they do not speak for us. i believe that the devastation is on record -- the administration is on record supporting. they have said that several times. they said it here. the thing is, how are you going to do it? i do not think there is anybody who says there is any solution, as it is a political solution. how are you going to do it? these contacts with the taliban, these ideas that are floating around, they're useful. absolutely. at the end of the day, many of you have followed -- it was three years ago in kenya, having left the united nations, having to mitigate the terrible consequences. the most important thing was to demand from everybody that he be the only channel. every
whole future of afghanistan. the secretary was here a careful to say that those to work looking previously at preconditions for discussion have not converted. those preconditions into negotiating objectives. there is no internal disagreement on these particular points. >> you are absolutely right. it is different. we do not represent them, they do not speak for us. i believe that the devastation is on record -- the administration is on record supporting. they have said that several times....
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Aug 30, 2011
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, especially western afghanistan. by all measures, that is a good thing. it's a good thing for the people of afghanistan, it's a good thing for the people of iran, and it's a good thing for the prospects of peace and democracy. if that is going on back and forth, especially if we have a democratic country in afghanistan. that's the first thing. the second thing, i am limited to a degree in what i can say, but it is troubling, some of the weapons we have found in afghanistan and some of the munitions we found in afghanistan that clearly have their source -- and this is nothing the generals have not said -- it is troubling and that's all i'm going to say on that. >> and do we have a final question? go for it. >> my question is, when we come back and ask for security from the international community, like indians are working and other nations are there, what they're asking many people now is what guarantee can you give them a for their safety? >> what i would say is the fact that they are asking that question is a sign o
, especially western afghanistan. by all measures, that is a good thing. it's a good thing for the people of afghanistan, it's a good thing for the people of iran, and it's a good thing for the prospects of peace and democracy. if that is going on back and forth, especially if we have a democratic country in afghanistan. that's the first thing. the second thing, i am limited to a degree in what i can say, but it is troubling, some of the weapons we have found in afghanistan and some of the...
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Apr 21, 2011
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what are you hearing from afghanistan? >> i'll make a few comments, then invite general cartwright to comment. there has been some uptick inactivity, but we are still kind of in the middle of the poppy harvest, so i think they're really expecting what ever return to the battlefield and there is by the taliban will be probably some time mooring in may and june -- more in may and june. my own view is that this year is a critical year. we have driven the taliban out of areas they have controlled for years. that includes their heartland. they clearly intend to try to take that back. if we can prevent them this year from retaking the areas that we have taken away from them, and we can continue to expand the security level, i think it is possible that by the city to of this year we will have turned a corner -- i think that by the end of this year it is possible that we will have turned a corner, but that is more months into the future than it is weeks. i think we are all expecting an increase in the level of violence and activit
what are you hearing from afghanistan? >> i'll make a few comments, then invite general cartwright to comment. there has been some uptick inactivity, but we are still kind of in the middle of the poppy harvest, so i think they're really expecting what ever return to the battlefield and there is by the taliban will be probably some time mooring in may and june -- more in may and june. my own view is that this year is a critical year. we have driven the taliban out of areas they have...
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Aug 12, 2011
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we're not going to do and iraq or and afghanistan again. i did not think we need to do them again to keep this country say from the terrorist threat. i think we will use a different model in yemen and somalia. maybe using our manned aircraft or predator aircraft or occasionally special forces. i think that is the model of how we will wage the war on terror in the next 10 years. what does it mean for our military and ground forces? i would argue if we'll have that model, we will need civilian capacity to help these states better perform for the people. strategic forces. arms control has been one of the great forces for preventing countries to do smart things with their military because they wait to have a negotiation where they can get some credit for it. i like to see us not have a next strategic arms negotiations with the russians. i would like the planners to sit down and see how we can streamline the effective forces so that we can move much more quickly. it missile defense, we can have that conversation. it is not directed at china or r
we're not going to do and iraq or and afghanistan again. i did not think we need to do them again to keep this country say from the terrorist threat. i think we will use a different model in yemen and somalia. maybe using our manned aircraft or predator aircraft or occasionally special forces. i think that is the model of how we will wage the war on terror in the next 10 years. what does it mean for our military and ground forces? i would argue if we'll have that model, we will need civilian...
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Jun 23, 2011
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a corner in afghanistan. it is bewilledering to me that yesterday we send a -- bewilledering to me that yesterday we send a message that we're wrapping things up. and it's the beginning of the end. let me ask you, do you believe last night in the president's speech that the taliban was sad to hear what he was saying or that they were happy to hear it? ladies and gentlemen, just as senate majority leader harry reid couldn't have been in a bigger hurry to the access of iraq, he, too, was wrong. we will be proven wrong again. america has a vested interest and seeing an afghanistan that can stand up against terrorism, that can defend itself against terrorists who seeks to overthrow their country, that seeks to overthrow pakistan and can do so with limited u.s. help. that's when we can begin to see victory. or we can just give up. i can tell you that as a soldier -- as a military member and the military members i talked to, we don't want to have to be there another day. but we also don't want to come home in any c
a corner in afghanistan. it is bewilledering to me that yesterday we send a -- bewilledering to me that yesterday we send a message that we're wrapping things up. and it's the beginning of the end. let me ask you, do you believe last night in the president's speech that the taliban was sad to hear what he was saying or that they were happy to hear it? ladies and gentlemen, just as senate majority leader harry reid couldn't have been in a bigger hurry to the access of iraq, he, too, was wrong....
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Apr 20, 2011
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we had afghanistan in our heads. we had a number of about 20,000 and we had hundreds of thousands who were volunteering. in retrospect, that recommendation to take volunteers was not a good one. the reason being when we enter iraq we needed significantly more reservists. and out of fairness we determined that those would serve already would not serve a second tour until everyone had served a first tour. again, makes good sense. but the result of that was that the a unit that was to be deployed might have had 20%, 30% of its folks already deployed. so they stayed home and we had to go to another unit to fill in those spaces. over time two units replacing one game four units replacing one, became eight units replacing one. and it all goes back to the original premise that we would take volunteer reservists in afghanistan. and i was certainly one of the voices that was supportive of that. in retrospect, not a good idea. next, in afghanistan, there was a great deal of discussion amongst the u.s., the afghan government an
we had afghanistan in our heads. we had a number of about 20,000 and we had hundreds of thousands who were volunteering. in retrospect, that recommendation to take volunteers was not a good one. the reason being when we enter iraq we needed significantly more reservists. and out of fairness we determined that those would serve already would not serve a second tour until everyone had served a first tour. again, makes good sense. but the result of that was that the a unit that was to be deployed...
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Jul 7, 2011
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and afghanistan prohibiting afghanistan from taxing u.s. subcontractors doing work in afghanistan. so this ban on levying taxes would apply to all subcontractors that may not have direct contracts with afghanistan. in other words, if a company is working on a project funded by the u.s. department of defense, whether that company is a prime contractor or subcontractor, that company should not be subject to taxes from the afghan government. seems pretty simple. these are the contractors doing the work of rebuilding in afghanistan, helping rebuild the infrastructure and hopefully allowing them to one day thrive independently. common sense and financial prudentens says the u.s. should not be subject to taxation for the rebuilding efforts it is paying for. and that was what we were getting at with this amendment. mr. kingston: i think the point that you have raised is a very valid point and something that's very good discussion matter. unfortunately, we believe that it is authorizing an appropriation as the chair has confirmed. but that probably, the concern far more than the philosophi
and afghanistan prohibiting afghanistan from taxing u.s. subcontractors doing work in afghanistan. so this ban on levying taxes would apply to all subcontractors that may not have direct contracts with afghanistan. in other words, if a company is working on a project funded by the u.s. department of defense, whether that company is a prime contractor or subcontractor, that company should not be subject to taxes from the afghan government. seems pretty simple. these are the contractors doing the...
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Apr 28, 2011
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it's afghanistan and pakistan. and you have to take the region, put the region into context, if you will, in just about everything that you are doing. so, we've been through a rough patch. we've been through before with pakistan. and i'm actually hopeful that we can, that we will continue to be able to build on the relationship. we understand each other much better than we did a few years ago. we are still digging our way out of 12 years of mistrust with no relationship from 1990-2002. that's just not going to be solved even in a few years we've been working with them. it's going to take some time. but i think a partnership, a strategic relationship with pakistan in the long run is absolutely vital to the security, not just in that region but because of the downside possibilities for security, global security. >> afghanistan, neighboring country, as you say you can't consider them together but with 100,000 troops in afghanistan, and many, many thousands more contractors. i want to ask you, and i believe the drawdow
it's afghanistan and pakistan. and you have to take the region, put the region into context, if you will, in just about everything that you are doing. so, we've been through a rough patch. we've been through before with pakistan. and i'm actually hopeful that we can, that we will continue to be able to build on the relationship. we understand each other much better than we did a few years ago. we are still digging our way out of 12 years of mistrust with no relationship from 1990-2002. that's...
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Jan 24, 2011
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forces afghanistan. facility is a critical component of the reconstruction of the afghanistan security forces or the building of the afghanistan security forces. since 2005, $11.4 billion has been made available or is intended for the security forces infrastructure. much of this money has come by way of operations since 2005 -- by way of operations since 2005 to 2010, and will also $7 billion of the money is appropriated or will have been appropriated between 20 to one in 2012. and -- between 2010 and 2012. and 10 of the audits have been focused on addressing infrastructure projects. they have essentially covered the afghanistan national army,, pants for the afghanistan national police, -- compounds for the afghanistan national police, and the reconstruction effort under the emergency response program. ily to provide immediate assistance to the population of afghanistan. we have over 90 investigations under way involving infrastructure. they can be categorized in areas of bribery, country fraud, faulty c
forces afghanistan. facility is a critical component of the reconstruction of the afghanistan security forces or the building of the afghanistan security forces. since 2005, $11.4 billion has been made available or is intended for the security forces infrastructure. much of this money has come by way of operations since 2005 -- by way of operations since 2005 to 2010, and will also $7 billion of the money is appropriated or will have been appropriated between 20 to one in 2012. and -- between...
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May 30, 2011
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in afghanistan. around half of americans killed or injured in afghanistan are victims of improvised explosive devices. the pentagon says about 1300 are discovered either -- discovered every month by a blowing up or being discovered beforehand. that does not count the ones no one ever sees. you're talking about tens of thousands of a bewildering variety, some which are very hard to detect, killing hundreds of american troops per year. there would be many more of we were not spending billions of dollars on these trucks. as it stands, even the survivors suffer long-term consequences, besides the trauma injuries, brain injuries are a huge problem now. i read something like 25,000 american troops have been concussed and suffered brain injuries in afghanistan. most of those are since the ied scourged picked up in the last few months. it's a major reason why the coalition cannot fully control provinces close to kabul, where they have the most troops. it is extremely difficult just to get between two. in afg
in afghanistan. around half of americans killed or injured in afghanistan are victims of improvised explosive devices. the pentagon says about 1300 are discovered either -- discovered every month by a blowing up or being discovered beforehand. that does not count the ones no one ever sees. you're talking about tens of thousands of a bewildering variety, some which are very hard to detect, killing hundreds of american troops per year. there would be many more of we were not spending billions of...
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Aug 31, 2011
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we need to get out of iraq and afghanistan immediately. we should not be advertising to see the world. where are the hundred bases? how would we feel if all of these other countries have military bases here? then we are paying these people $500 to have privatized the military. a bodyguard for a congressman fit -- visiting over there on are getting budget why are we not paying our own military people that? where are we wasting on contractors -- the good old but military industrial complex that eisenhower talked about. i am sorry, i am getting emotional. >> wind down. >> my friends and belgium and work for the eu to solve the issues of poverty. she had six months off, her kids in childhood care, they have all these things in europe without any more taxes than we pay here. something is really wrong. something is basically really wrong. spending all of this money on military and privatizing it should all be going to our schools, our children, our roads, and infrastructure. sorry i went on. >> thank you very much. i hear again the passion and i
we need to get out of iraq and afghanistan immediately. we should not be advertising to see the world. where are the hundred bases? how would we feel if all of these other countries have military bases here? then we are paying these people $500 to have privatized the military. a bodyguard for a congressman fit -- visiting over there on are getting budget why are we not paying our own military people that? where are we wasting on contractors -- the good old but military industrial complex that...
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Nov 8, 2011
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bruce reidell is one of the best voices on afghanistan. he has incredible experience and he is somebody that i turn to. there are some people that are -- some people that know a lot and have decades of experience. if you are a conscientious person that is always reading, you have to pay attention to the name and the institute. do they sit on the left or right? what is their motivation? how do you evaluate someone's motivation? how will they be saying that? if you don't have firsthand experience, it is very hard to know when someone is slipping into academia. they often know about something that you have no idea about. i don't have an easy answer for you. journalists have the time are lazy, we go back to the same people over and over again. you see a guy on cnn the noise the crap out of view, there is probably a good -- that annnoys the -- annoys the crap out of you, there is probably a good reason. if you are paying attention, you remember that. take it with a grain of salt half the time. a lot of these institutions are very clearly aligne
bruce reidell is one of the best voices on afghanistan. he has incredible experience and he is somebody that i turn to. there are some people that are -- some people that know a lot and have decades of experience. if you are a conscientious person that is always reading, you have to pay attention to the name and the institute. do they sit on the left or right? what is their motivation? how do you evaluate someone's motivation? how will they be saying that? if you don't have firsthand...
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Sep 7, 2011
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we have the -- we are still involved in afghanistan and iraq. pakistan is a huge challenge for the united states and could become an expensive operation for us, already is an expensive operation for us. in addition there's opportunities, new opportunities in egypt. we have libya that's emerging. so how will you go ba -- share to us the standards you will use in trying to make priority judgments. we are faced with the possibility of congressional record cuts -- across the board cuts if congress is unable to reduce the deficit further, which could obviously bring in tough decisionmaking challenges to the department of state. >> thank you very much, senator cardin. this is a very many tough question we are beginning the hearing with and i know that for every member you have just come back from recess and talking with your constituents and being back in communities and american families are worried about everything from the floods in their neighborhoods to quite importantly whether they are or loved one also have a job to be able to support their fa
we have the -- we are still involved in afghanistan and iraq. pakistan is a huge challenge for the united states and could become an expensive operation for us, already is an expensive operation for us. in addition there's opportunities, new opportunities in egypt. we have libya that's emerging. so how will you go ba -- share to us the standards you will use in trying to make priority judgments. we are faced with the possibility of congressional record cuts -- across the board cuts if congress...
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Oct 18, 2011
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of justice successfully defended against an effort to extend the habeas remedy to detainees held in afghanistan. fourth, through the interrogation of those captured by the united states, and our partners overseas, we continue to collect valuable intelligence about al qaeda, its plans, and its intentions. this administration, like its predecessors, continues to successfully prosecute terrorists in our federal civilian courts. as a former federal prosecutor, i know firsthand the strengths, security, and the fact dimmest of our federal courts system, and i know colleagues agree with me on this point. given the reforms since 9/11, the federal court system is even more effective, and as a result of lengthy and mandatory minimum prison sentences authorized by congress and the federal sentencing guidelines, those convicted of terrorism-related offenses often face decades, if not life, in prison. the result this week's for itself. since 9/11, numerous individuals have convicted of terrorism- related offenses. in the last two years alone, we have seen in our federal courts a guilty plea from the man who
of justice successfully defended against an effort to extend the habeas remedy to detainees held in afghanistan. fourth, through the interrogation of those captured by the united states, and our partners overseas, we continue to collect valuable intelligence about al qaeda, its plans, and its intentions. this administration, like its predecessors, continues to successfully prosecute terrorists in our federal civilian courts. as a former federal prosecutor, i know firsthand the strengths,...
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Sep 1, 2011
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there is a group within afghanistan that is happy we are there. we have added to the gross domestic product manyfold. the taliban are happy we are there. there is some irony going on. we're spending a lot of money in afghanistan. we need to rethink that. guest: we were briefed by the experts when i was in afghanistan in march. even a limited amount of siphoning of u.s. money has a terrible impact. our report finds that the second largest source of money for the insurgency is siphoned off u.s. funds. that would be a couple of hundred million dollars. that would be a big piece of the taliban budgets. guest: that is the general. we give you more specifics. half of our military efforts are contractors. they do not train with the military. byhoughtws are not sof the military. it would be someone who is focused on contractors. focused on contractors. we have a qdr in the military, there five-year plan of action. we think there should be 8 da dual-headed person so that they are talking about operations and talking about money and making sure the two mix.
there is a group within afghanistan that is happy we are there. we have added to the gross domestic product manyfold. the taliban are happy we are there. there is some irony going on. we're spending a lot of money in afghanistan. we need to rethink that. guest: we were briefed by the experts when i was in afghanistan in march. even a limited amount of siphoning of u.s. money has a terrible impact. our report finds that the second largest source of money for the insurgency is siphoned off u.s....
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Jul 7, 2011
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number one, there's very little local government infrastructure in afghanistan. the fact that we build a road or a school doesn't mean there's a government or authority to maintain it. so we build something, the moment we turn the keys over it falls into disuse and disrepair. second, the expense of doing this is enormous. you know, it may make sense to to these civic projects that do create some good will, but to do them, mr. speaker, in a middle of a shooting war or is it better to do it before or after the war when you have a chance to -- for this implementation to occur? third, there's an immense amount of ripping off of money from the american taxpayer. it goes -- it gets lost, it gets picked up. it's too rampant in afghanistan. so according to a report in "the washington post," and, mr. speaker, i will be asking you to submit "the washington post" in the record, half of this money, minimum of $400 million, has gone missing. it's wasted and it's coming out of our taxpayer pockets. our amendment, my amendment would cut in half the $400 million, reduce it to $0
number one, there's very little local government infrastructure in afghanistan. the fact that we build a road or a school doesn't mean there's a government or authority to maintain it. so we build something, the moment we turn the keys over it falls into disuse and disrepair. second, the expense of doing this is enormous. you know, it may make sense to to these civic projects that do create some good will, but to do them, mr. speaker, in a middle of a shooting war or is it better to do it...
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Nov 28, 2011
11/11
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that sort of fell apart last year and the consequences in afghanistan have been major. it makes the job much more difficult. if that relationship is not being achieved, we need to look longer-term and go back to a relationship with afghanistan that makes sense over the long term. we cannot deal with the army and isi directly for our purposes, thereby reinforcing their positions within pakistan to the ultimate detriment of the pakistani people. we have to help the government put the army and isi back where they belong. we have to work on long-term things, like trying to change pakistani education, so it is not the the process who are reform renewed -- madrassas who are performing those who cannot get education elsewhere. we need a careful set of penalties as well as inducements to pakistan, in order to reach a long-term goals. i think we have to accept that pakistan will not be a great deal of help to us in the near term with our goals in afghanistan, and tried to build a long-term relationship that will eventually make pakistan and more responsible member of the interna
that sort of fell apart last year and the consequences in afghanistan have been major. it makes the job much more difficult. if that relationship is not being achieved, we need to look longer-term and go back to a relationship with afghanistan that makes sense over the long term. we cannot deal with the army and isi directly for our purposes, thereby reinforcing their positions within pakistan to the ultimate detriment of the pakistani people. we have to help the government put the army and isi...
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Feb 18, 2011
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in afghanistan. the intent is clear. it is time to bring u.s. involvement in the war in afghanistan to an end and to bring our troops home. the war effort in afghanistan is no longer serving its purpose of enhancing the security of the united states, which should be our goal. we were attacked on 9/11 by al qaeda. al qaeda had bases in afghanistan. it made sense to go in and destroy those bases, and we did. we had every right. we had every duty to destroy bases which are being used to plot attacks against the united states. but the c.i.a. tells us there are now fewer than 100 al qaeda personnel in all of the country of afghanistan. congress and the american people helped greatly reduce u.s. involvement in iraq through the election in 2006 and 2008, we forced a new direction in iraq and helped bring thousands of troops home. we must now do the same in afghanistan. the intent of this amendment is to reduce the funding for afghanistan sufficiently to leave enough funds to provide for the safe and orderly
in afghanistan. the intent is clear. it is time to bring u.s. involvement in the war in afghanistan to an end and to bring our troops home. the war effort in afghanistan is no longer serving its purpose of enhancing the security of the united states, which should be our goal. we were attacked on 9/11 by al qaeda. al qaeda had bases in afghanistan. it made sense to go in and destroy those bases, and we did. we had every right. we had every duty to destroy bases which are being used to plot...
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Jun 16, 2011
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strategy in afghanistan succeed without pakistan? >> well, first of all, i would say that the -- that our strategy is succeeding and pakistan is playing a contribute tore role to that. -- contributory role to that. it is important to remember that they have 140,000 troops on that border, that at a minimum, we're stirring things up. they cleared south what here stan, but even their presence and maneuvering creates uncertainty. there is some indication that al qaeda is worried that because of the way we went after bin laden, their suspicion is that pakistanis may have been involved in it and are worried that the pakistanis mabee tray them as well. -- may betray them as well. there is clearly the lines of communication through pakistan are critical for our operations in afghanistan. so i think all of these things are important and then just in terms of regional stability, there is the reality that pakistan is a country that has a number of nuclear weapons. and, again, keeping those lines of communication open, it seems to me, is very im
strategy in afghanistan succeed without pakistan? >> well, first of all, i would say that the -- that our strategy is succeeding and pakistan is playing a contribute tore role to that. -- contributory role to that. it is important to remember that they have 140,000 troops on that border, that at a minimum, we're stirring things up. they cleared south what here stan, but even their presence and maneuvering creates uncertainty. there is some indication that al qaeda is worried that because...
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Jan 25, 2011
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so i hope that the president will speak tomorrow night about afghanistan. i hope that he will say that he intends to start bringing our troops home this year. mr. speaker, just another couple points and then i will conclude. i have here photographs of marines from the camp lejeune area which is in my district and they're young, anywhere from 19-38 of age who have given their life for their country and yet many times i wonder here in congress why don't we bring up this issue of bringing our troops home from afghanistan. so, mr. speaker, tonight i want to thank you for giving me this chance to speak. i want to thank those that might be on the floor. i hope you'll join us and myself and jimmy duncan on our side who have been saying it's time to bring our troops home and let's join together in a bipartisan way and start talking about bringing our troops home. mr. speaker, before closing, as i do each and every night because i think about the pain that i've seen at walter reed and bethesda, i think about the families who are burying their loved ones now, who hav
so i hope that the president will speak tomorrow night about afghanistan. i hope that he will say that he intends to start bringing our troops home this year. mr. speaker, just another couple points and then i will conclude. i have here photographs of marines from the camp lejeune area which is in my district and they're young, anywhere from 19-38 of age who have given their life for their country and yet many times i wonder here in congress why don't we bring up this issue of bringing our...
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Apr 6, 2011
04/11
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if you've every visited them in iraq and afghanistan, they have values. they know about their grandmothers and grandfathers, they know about their families back home with their children. they know what they are fighting for. they will understand that we are here fighting for values. this government shut down is not the blame or fault of the president of the united states or the democrats in this house. or in the senate. there has been an offer of $73 billion. it is a question of whether or not you want to solve this problem on the backs of grandmothers and granddads, backs of the families of the military persons on the frontlines in iraq and afghanistan, do you want to throw college students right out on their rear that are right in the middle of their school term by canceling their pell grants? do you want to tell mothers taking their children to the clinic there is no more medicaid for them? do you want to turn the lights out and close the door and say america, we don't have anymore values. don't shut this government down. you are not going to shut it d
if you've every visited them in iraq and afghanistan, they have values. they know about their grandmothers and grandfathers, they know about their families back home with their children. they know what they are fighting for. they will understand that we are here fighting for values. this government shut down is not the blame or fault of the president of the united states or the democrats in this house. or in the senate. there has been an offer of $73 billion. it is a question of whether or not...
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Oct 5, 2011
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get out of afghanistan. the costs in blood and treasure have been too high. 10 years is more than enough. after 10 years it's time to come home. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: thank you. the gentleman yields back. the chair recognizes the gentleman from alabama, mr. bonner, for five minutes. mr. bonner: i ask unanimous consent to address the house and to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: yes, you may proceed. the gentleman is recognized. mr. bonner: madam speaker, while the long-term unemployment is now worse than at anytime since the great depression and americans in growing numbers are becoming more and more concerned about the direction their country is heading, one thing that is uniting americans is the realization that their federal government is unnecessarily getting in the way of the job creators. both small and large businesses alike. by tying their hands, the hands of employers with bureaucratic red tape and over-the-top unnecessary and often duplicative regu
get out of afghanistan. the costs in blood and treasure have been too high. 10 years is more than enough. after 10 years it's time to come home. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: thank you. the gentleman yields back. the chair recognizes the gentleman from alabama, mr. bonner, for five minutes. mr. bonner: i ask unanimous consent to address the house and to revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: yes, you may proceed. the gentleman is recognized. mr. bonner:...
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Jun 29, 2011
06/11
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caller: i want to comment on the new york president from afghanistan. afghanistan. they're not going to protect their own country with that kind of money. guest: i am not sure it is $200 per month is the appropriate salary. if i were in afghanistan, i 2000 peress 200,000 - month is a pretty good salary. are these individuals committed to the government and the organizations and structures that they put in place? if what is accurate, and these individuals are not willing to stand and fight, it means they are not committed to the organizations and government. host: the next calller is on the democratic line. caller: it seems you were on the intelligence committee when you were in the house. you spent 10 years and did not get osama bin laden. what is killing you is president obama said he would get him before he got elected into office and he did. is it true you were a lobbyist for libya? guest: no, i am not a lobbyist for libya. for libya. and it does not kill me at all. i and grilled. m thrilled. i made the decision to leave congress, and then i made the decision to
caller: i want to comment on the new york president from afghanistan. afghanistan. they're not going to protect their own country with that kind of money. guest: i am not sure it is $200 per month is the appropriate salary. if i were in afghanistan, i 2000 peress 200,000 - month is a pretty good salary. are these individuals committed to the government and the organizations and structures that they put in place? if what is accurate, and these individuals are not willing to stand and fight, it...
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May 2, 2011
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we still have 100,000 troops in afghanistan. >> the basis for the presence in afghanistan is to bring that country the security that it can have and to not allow al qaeda to never again use afghanistan as a launching point. we're determined to bring security that these countries, these people need and deserve because of what we need -- can help with them with. >> we did not let any other countries know. >> the president has had a number of conversations with foreign leaders. this is something of international significance and he will continue to have those discussions. >> hyou cannot say if he'd talked to chancellor merkel or president sarkozy? >> i could, but i'm not going to. >> in light of this, the unique features and size of the compound, is it likely the neighbors had known anything about this, who lived there? >> when you look at the features of this compound, 18 foot walls, barbwire, this was a family, a compound that had limited interaction, to the best of our knowledge and observation with the surrounding houses. it clearly was different than any other house out there. in ha
we still have 100,000 troops in afghanistan. >> the basis for the presence in afghanistan is to bring that country the security that it can have and to not allow al qaeda to never again use afghanistan as a launching point. we're determined to bring security that these countries, these people need and deserve because of what we need -- can help with them with. >> we did not let any other countries know. >> the president has had a number of conversations with foreign leaders....
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May 10, 2011
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allegiance to afghanistan, throw down their arms, that afghanistan will take them back. they understand there has to be a political solution to this fight here. i think this gives us a great opportunity. i think president karzai and the afghans look at it that way as well. i hope it does. the afghan people deserve this opportunity to live a better life and reintegration will go a long way. >> we when we spoke to you last time you were talking about your cooperation with pakistani 11th corps. i'm wondering if there was a change in that since the mission to kill bin laden. are the pakistanis starting to cooperate on taking down the network at least along the border region? >> thanks for the question. i think the last, we have been working the border piece since day one. we have been working the reelingship with the 11th corps. the frontiere scouts. i have gone to -- frontier scouts. i have gone to pakistan several times. times. i think at the tactic aol cooperation level that cooperation over the last two months is the best we have seen it. battalion to battalion, brigade
allegiance to afghanistan, throw down their arms, that afghanistan will take them back. they understand there has to be a political solution to this fight here. i think this gives us a great opportunity. i think president karzai and the afghans look at it that way as well. i hope it does. the afghan people deserve this opportunity to live a better life and reintegration will go a long way. >> we when we spoke to you last time you were talking about your cooperation with pakistani 11th...
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Jul 6, 2011
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i just returned from a trip to afghanistan. i cannot describe how impressed i am with the commitment, the dedication and the work carried out every single day by our men and women in uniform and those in the civilian services. i met and spoke with them in kabul, bases and air force bases and small villages. quite simply, they are incredible. but over and over and over again, i heard the same message, this is not sustainable. the strategy that we are pursuing in afghanistan is not sustainable and it is costing us too much in human lives and financial resources to continue. it can't continue for another 18 months as called for by the president, let alone even longer. i stand here tonight more convinced than ever that it is time to forge a new path, a new strategy, built upon past and present accomplishments and more aggressively focused on reducing the military footprint in afghanistan than the plan described by the president last month, accelerating the transition of combat operations and intense international and regional effor
i just returned from a trip to afghanistan. i cannot describe how impressed i am with the commitment, the dedication and the work carried out every single day by our men and women in uniform and those in the civilian services. i met and spoke with them in kabul, bases and air force bases and small villages. quite simply, they are incredible. but over and over and over again, i heard the same message, this is not sustainable. the strategy that we are pursuing in afghanistan is not sustainable...
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May 5, 2011
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if al qaeda is perhaps a dozen people in afghanistan? for me there are so many larger issues that we should grapple with and try to move forward because it is costing us lives and it is costing us a lot of money in the current situation that we are. so this ability to get osama bin laden and we did that is at the top of the list of how do we begin to phase down what congress approved almost 10 years ago in let's go after him because he did was wrong on 9/11. an photograph, i'd think, is incidental king. host: the president gets kudos from pace that's often critical of him, the wall street journal editorial page. -- we are beginning to have folks wh undero stand i go through the treasure trove of materials. here's this little item from this morning. are americans more danger because of possible reprisals after the death? guest: there are a lot of groups loosely affiliated with al qaeda. there are people who just want to do us harm. they might look at this as an opportunity to go after americans. the fact is you have to look at the last 10
if al qaeda is perhaps a dozen people in afghanistan? for me there are so many larger issues that we should grapple with and try to move forward because it is costing us lives and it is costing us a lot of money in the current situation that we are. so this ability to get osama bin laden and we did that is at the top of the list of how do we begin to phase down what congress approved almost 10 years ago in let's go after him because he did was wrong on 9/11. an photograph, i'd think, is...
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Mar 10, 2011
03/11
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province of afghanistan. he was employed to afghanistan as part of the first battalion, eighth marine regiment, second marine division out of camp lejeune, north carolina. he leaves behind his mother, his father, a sister, a brother, who serves in the georgia national guard. he also leaves behind a nephew. ramon desired to become a united states marine from an early age. family members call ramon's spending hours playing military video games and watching the military channel when he was a teenager. ramon began training to enter the service even before he graduated from high school. he passed up recruitment offers from the navy, army, and air force to join the marines. many family members were apprehensive about ray moan joining the marines, but he felt that it was his duty to serve. he told his family, don't try to worry about me much. i'm glad i'm doing what i always wanted to do. friends and family members who recalled ramon remember a young man who was not only driven to serve his country but also someone
province of afghanistan. he was employed to afghanistan as part of the first battalion, eighth marine regiment, second marine division out of camp lejeune, north carolina. he leaves behind his mother, his father, a sister, a brother, who serves in the georgia national guard. he also leaves behind a nephew. ramon desired to become a united states marine from an early age. family members call ramon's spending hours playing military video games and watching the military channel when he was a...
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Mar 18, 2011
03/11
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is afghanistan a tavon country? do you have reasons to believe or fear that the social political changes your instituting will not remain after we depart? >> first, we're not about social and political and institutional change. what we're doing is helping our afghan partners develop what is right for them. that is our goal. we often say, as well, i actually remind our troopers, guys, this is not about winning hearts and minds for us. we would love to have hearts and minds. everybody wants to be loved. but what really matters is hearts and minds for our afghan partners, so we can transition tasks to them so that they are seen as legitimate in the eyes of the people. that is the true measure of success, and that is what we're trying to do. we are supporting, certainly, the development of institutions in afghanistan. it literally evolves. there are countervailing forces there. a lot of people -- in fact, on capitol hill, a number of people, including nancy pelosi, talk about women in afghanistan and ensuring there is n
is afghanistan a tavon country? do you have reasons to believe or fear that the social political changes your instituting will not remain after we depart? >> first, we're not about social and political and institutional change. what we're doing is helping our afghan partners develop what is right for them. that is our goal. we often say, as well, i actually remind our troopers, guys, this is not about winning hearts and minds for us. we would love to have hearts and minds. everybody wants...
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Jun 24, 2011
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register that as afghanistan and iraq. this resolution is the companion to forward-leaning senate legislation introduced by senators kerry, mccain and cardin and durbin. immediately after they introduced the legislation in the senate, i brought it to the house so we can make progress on this very important debate before us. if i had my way, and i don't, mr. chairman, we wouldn't be in libya at all. but i don't have my way, and here we are and the solution now is going to be to cut off funding and suddenly walk out. we have a responsibility to our allies. as long as we are continuing to supply logistics, materials and critical intelligence and operational capabilities and no boots are on the ground, we must support our allies who are carrying out the direct combat operations. we must stand with nato. again, mr. speaker, if i had my way, and i don't, there are revisions to this resolution that i think congress ought to consider. i maintained that a better date to end the authorization would be in september and certainly no l
register that as afghanistan and iraq. this resolution is the companion to forward-leaning senate legislation introduced by senators kerry, mccain and cardin and durbin. immediately after they introduced the legislation in the senate, i brought it to the house so we can make progress on this very important debate before us. if i had my way, and i don't, mr. chairman, we wouldn't be in libya at all. but i don't have my way, and here we are and the solution now is going to be to cut off funding...
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Jul 7, 2011
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is the afghanistan central government introducing the rule of law? have we not already defeated al qaeda? and so who are we fighting and why? for $10 billion a month, mr. speaker, our expectations as taxpayers, as americans, as members of congress should be high. is it too much to think that $10 billion a month to buy a stable ally, ally capable of standing on its own two feet, taking responsibility for its own security and having respect for the rule of law? instead, corruption and chaos are ruling the day in kabul. basic government institutions are failing to provide services. president karzai has tried to establish a special court, in fact, for the purpose of stripping 62 members of parliament of their seats and the financial system is teetering on the brink of collapse. with the head of the central bank fleeing the country and accusing karzai's regime of fraud and cronism. just a few days ago, mr. speaker, a brawl broke out on the floor of the afghanistan parliament with one member throwing a shoe at another member when a motion was proposed to i
is the afghanistan central government introducing the rule of law? have we not already defeated al qaeda? and so who are we fighting and why? for $10 billion a month, mr. speaker, our expectations as taxpayers, as americans, as members of congress should be high. is it too much to think that $10 billion a month to buy a stable ally, ally capable of standing on its own two feet, taking responsibility for its own security and having respect for the rule of law? instead, corruption and chaos are...
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May 2, 2011
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afghanistan has the highest mountains in the earth. we have 100,000 troops in afghanistan. one in three or shooters. they're supposed to keep mr. karzai in power and rebuild the economy, build a transportation and communications infrastructure from scratch, defeat the taliban, and in his spare time, go after bin laden. host: let's go to phone calls. stephen in college park, maryland. caller: there is one sensible, just, -- they should have desecrates his remains. feed it to -- a pig farm lagoon to show the followers would means -- and who is the boss. we're not doing that. it is unfortunate. host: that is your opinion. what about stoking the fire? this is what's osama bin laden -- this is what osama bin laden wanted. guest: to desecrate the body would have made us feel good, but it would have invoked great anger in the muslim world. host: lancaster, california. tony, you are next. caller: i have a question for those who question the burial at sea. where do they think you want -- he should have been buried? in the united states? host: that was part of a report that said it w
afghanistan has the highest mountains in the earth. we have 100,000 troops in afghanistan. one in three or shooters. they're supposed to keep mr. karzai in power and rebuild the economy, build a transportation and communications infrastructure from scratch, defeat the taliban, and in his spare time, go after bin laden. host: let's go to phone calls. stephen in college park, maryland. caller: there is one sensible, just, -- they should have desecrates his remains. feed it to -- a pig farm lagoon...
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Feb 15, 2011
02/11
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icy conditions that are often found in afghanistan. oddly enough the b-22 also had problems in dusty conditions which coincidentally also exist and is common in afghanistan. so i ask my colleagues, why do we continue to fund the boondoggle? the majority claims to have made some tough choices in this bill. apparently this includes continuing to fund a plane that dick cheney called a, quote, turkey and tried to kill four times when he was secretary of defense. it should also be noted dick cheney did not often meet a defense program he didn't like so this would be very telling to everyone here. in order to continue funding this plane, this congress proposes steep cuts to be made on the backs of the most vulnerable citizens. h.r. 1 puts the safety of american families at risk. the bill eliminates caps hiring, a program that will put 1,300 fewer cops on our streets. they'll cut safer programs which means there are 2,400 fewer firefighters protecting our communities so that we can build a plane that can't be under icy conditions, can't fly w
icy conditions that are often found in afghanistan. oddly enough the b-22 also had problems in dusty conditions which coincidentally also exist and is common in afghanistan. so i ask my colleagues, why do we continue to fund the boondoggle? the majority claims to have made some tough choices in this bill. apparently this includes continuing to fund a plane that dick cheney called a, quote, turkey and tried to kill four times when he was secretary of defense. it should also be noted dick cheney...
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Jun 2, 2011
06/11
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$10 billion a month on afghanistan. for the price of about six days of fighting the war in afghanistan we could make up the difference between the president's homeland security request and the allocation in this bill. six days. the majority clearly has one set of standards for important domestic programs and another, quite another for military ventures abroad. if you want to wage a war, no questions asked. but if you want to support first responders or educate small children or preserve medicare, you better duck because the budget act is aimed at the people's priorities. i remind my friends in the majority that terrorist will strike us here on our shores, in our homeland, in our capital, an enormous military footprint that's stomping down in a sovereign country thousands of miles away, a country where osama bin laden wasn't fighting and al qaeda is barely active is not where we need to be putting our efforts. let's do the smart thing. let's fully fund homeland security and let's save money and lives by bringing our troo
$10 billion a month on afghanistan. for the price of about six days of fighting the war in afghanistan we could make up the difference between the president's homeland security request and the allocation in this bill. six days. the majority clearly has one set of standards for important domestic programs and another, quite another for military ventures abroad. if you want to wage a war, no questions asked. but if you want to support first responders or educate small children or preserve...
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Sep 16, 2011
09/11
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today, the business of afghanistan is war. how can we hope extra kate ourselves from the war when so many benefit from the insecurity used to justify or continued presence. we crossed a tipping point in which the size of the foot print fosters further instability. every additional soldier and supply convoy we send to afghanistan further fuels the cycle of dependence, corruption, and endless war. with that said, i want toocus today on the hearing on three basic questions. one, what is the scope of contracting corruption in afghanistan. two, what is being done to address it? three, how can we dramatically reduce it? i'm skeptical about the design of the united states endeavor there, today's hearing focuses on practical solutions that can be implemented right away. congresshad an important role to play. this spring, i worked with the armed services committee to include the authorization act giving commanders in the field more authority to immediately stop contracting with companies that undermind our troops on the ground. i intro
today, the business of afghanistan is war. how can we hope extra kate ourselves from the war when so many benefit from the insecurity used to justify or continued presence. we crossed a tipping point in which the size of the foot print fosters further instability. every additional soldier and supply convoy we send to afghanistan further fuels the cycle of dependence, corruption, and endless war. with that said, i want toocus today on the hearing on three basic questions. one, what is the scope...
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Sep 29, 2011
09/11
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in afghanistan is been a disaster. and i'm worried about one of your recommendations and that's the head of this new ig. simply because in lots of other areas where we have like a special ig force-iraq we got some good data l of there. a lot of what you know we learned through stewart bolin and a lot of his efforts. but i'm worried about creating another one when we are not managing in afghanistan the ones we have. and so, it is fraught with some difficulty because we are not -- we are not holding somebody to accountability and we haven't. our last ig in my opinion was incompetent, not the one that took geeral fields place but general fields actions didn't measure up at all at any level in the standard of that. so why worry about that and i would like for you to jut comment on why you made that recommendation and how that contrast with holding the institutions we have, the special ig from afghanistan and for iraq and what was done and then i going to share my observations having ben three times to afghanistan and what
in afghanistan is been a disaster. and i'm worried about one of your recommendations and that's the head of this new ig. simply because in lots of other areas where we have like a special ig force-iraq we got some good data l of there. a lot of what you know we learned through stewart bolin and a lot of his efforts. but i'm worried about creating another one when we are not managing in afghanistan the ones we have. and so, it is fraught with some difficulty because we are not -- we are not...
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Apr 13, 2011
04/11
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an afghanistan-pakistan study group was needed. among those distinguished individuals who embraced the idea was former ambassador to iraq, ryan crocker. sadly, the war has remained distant for many americans. it is rarely spoken of from the presidential bullet post. in fact, a recent fox news piece reported, quote, the last time obama specifically devoted a full public speech to afghanistan was december 9, 2009, 16 months ago, when he announced at west point that he was sending an additional 30,000 u.s. troops to that war-torn country. and this congress ought to be looking at this also. further, the war is seldom covered in great depth in the news, and yet for the husbands and wives and mothers and fathers, sons and daughters who have sent off a loved one in uniform, the war in afghanistan is anything but distant. it is uncertainty and sacrifice. it is separation and worry and many times it is life and death. despite my several letters to the president and senior administration officials calling for a vigorous debate and discussion
an afghanistan-pakistan study group was needed. among those distinguished individuals who embraced the idea was former ambassador to iraq, ryan crocker. sadly, the war has remained distant for many americans. it is rarely spoken of from the presidential bullet post. in fact, a recent fox news piece reported, quote, the last time obama specifically devoted a full public speech to afghanistan was december 9, 2009, 16 months ago, when he announced at west point that he was sending an additional...
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Sep 20, 2011
09/11
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i felt very strongly about afghanistan and struggling with afghanistan. we didn't have enough resources there. we needed to at some point in time certainly focus there, focus on the al qaeda threat. that is really and still is today the epicenter of terrorism in the world. continues to be. i think we need to hold that focus. al qaeda's in a much different place than it was four years ago. people ask me what the best day in this job has been. it's really the day we got bin laden. and it's not just because we got bin laden, although that certainly is the highest priority in terms of that, but that also represents 30 years of work since desert one when we failed in the iranian hostage rescue and we rebuilt not just our special forces and special operators but our military. and we've been able to get to that point through blood, sweat and tears. a lot of losses. and become the best military in the world. we adapted who we are in iraq through the shift to counterinsurgency and obviously we are executing a difficult campaign in afghanistan. very well led with b
i felt very strongly about afghanistan and struggling with afghanistan. we didn't have enough resources there. we needed to at some point in time certainly focus there, focus on the al qaeda threat. that is really and still is today the epicenter of terrorism in the world. continues to be. i think we need to hold that focus. al qaeda's in a much different place than it was four years ago. people ask me what the best day in this job has been. it's really the day we got bin laden. and it's not...
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Jul 6, 2011
07/11
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good morning to those here, good evening in afghanistan. i'd like to welcome pack to the pentagon briefing room, army lieutenant general david rodriguez. he's commander of the international security assistance force joint command, also known as i.j.c. and also the deputy commander of the united states forces afghanistan. general rodriguez's current tour began in june, 2009, he became the first commander of the i.j.c. in october of that year. prior to that, general rodriguez was commander of regional command east for 15 months from january, 2007 to april, 2008. next week after two straight years in command and more than 40 months in after gap stan over the past 4 1/2 year, general rodriguez is ski wruled to change command and return stateside to have u.s. army forces command. the general most recently joined us here in person last february and we're very grate to feel see him this morning via satellite for an update on operations before he changes command. with that, general, i'll return it to you. >> good morning, dave. thank you for that i
good morning to those here, good evening in afghanistan. i'd like to welcome pack to the pentagon briefing room, army lieutenant general david rodriguez. he's commander of the international security assistance force joint command, also known as i.j.c. and also the deputy commander of the united states forces afghanistan. general rodriguez's current tour began in june, 2009, he became the first commander of the i.j.c. in october of that year. prior to that, general rodriguez was commander of...